Videotelephones and Mental Retardation. Survey of Results Achieved and Research in Progress. Report 92-1.

Brodin, Jane; Magnusson, Magnus

This two-section report presents a review of European research on the use of videotelephone technology by people with mental retardation. The first section examines relevant research concerning those with speech and language disabilities in general. Considered are visual communication including augmentative and alternative communication systems, remote communication (especially videotelephony), graphics-based remote communication (e.g., telefax), and picture communication. The second section looks at mental retardation and video telephony specifically. It reports on one Swedish study of three children and five adults with moderate mental retardation which found that four of the adults and two of the children increased their frequency of telephone use after being given training and access to a visual telephone system. This section also reports on a study carried out at a special school for mentally retarded children in Portugal which found that the children easily learned the use of the picture telephone and accepted its use. Also discussed are the use of videotelephones in education and health and care services, and the use of text telephony with persons with hearing impairments. The need for further research is stressed. (Contains 36 references.) (DB)